Dear Charlie

“Mommy, I have a tummy ache,” Charlie whined at me.  His large body is sat and slumped over the toilet, toes curled, arms curled around him.

 

“I’m sorry, bud.  Maybe you have a bit of a stomach bug,” I say reassuringly.  I’m trying to sound sympathetic, but I’m concentrating on deciding if I want to try and salvage this pair or underpants.

 

“Yeah, mom, it’s a fly.”

 

Now I’m looking at him.  “A fly?  How’d he get in?”  I ask.

 

“My mouth was open.”  He’s looking at me as if I’m dumb, which I’m not, but he must think so at this time.  He’s using his hands.  Not that my son is Italian, and yes, I just profiled, but my son talks with his hands all the time.  I’m just saying.  Mind you, he’s still on the pot. 

 

“Where is he?”

 

“Right here, “Charlie says as he points to his stomach.  “He’s going to come out tomorrow.”

 

“For your birthday,” I ask.

 

“Yep.  Mom, mom, I’m going to be 5.”

 

“Yes, buddy, I know.”  I take a quick breath.  “Are you done, Charlie?”

 

“Yep.”

 

This is Charlie.  He’s 51 pounds, 48 inches, 5 years old minus a day, and all mine.  He’s glorious.

 

Charlie, you make me learn more about myself ever day.  Where I thought I was patient, I’m not.  I said I’d never use the words, “Because I said so.”  I have.  I do not have every answer, even though some people think I do when it comes to YOU.  I am not the best at reading your mind.  I don’t know why you do everything you do.  

 

Charlie when you shot out of me without one push, thank you for that by the way, you were ready to take on the world.  Thank you for being so dramatic about it.  Nothing like being wheeled down a hallway on a gurney, POP, there you are, and then the doctor walks in the room.  You came into this world screaming.  You’ve kind of never stopped since.

 

Open up the DSM-IV to ADHD, there you’ll be.  Your siren noises could win you an Oscar.  Your mood swings are as if I am trying to climb into the car when Daddy drives and he keeps advancing a few feet ahead as I try to climb in.  You love everything, then you hate me, or you hate the dog, or you hate your car because the doors don’t open and you have to have a car with doors that open.  You love waffles then you hate them.  You’re sleepy then you’re not.  You love Thomas, you love Cars, you love Animaniacs, and you love WHATEVER. 

Charlie I can only imagine what goes on in your head on a daily basis.  Can you feel those synapses firing back and forth?  I’d love a brain scan one day.  If you didn’t make your noises, if you didn’t wake up around 5 am, if you didn’t tell me ‘I’m sorry’, I’d worry. 

 

Charlie, I know all this is hard for you.  A few months after your fourth birthday, you were diagnosed with high functioning autism and ADHD.  I see very little autistic tendency in you, but I do see ADHD.  Many people would think, “Oh, just another child with ADHD?  Do you use meds?”  Charlie, you are not just another child, you are my child.  And no, we do not use meds.   You are loving, you are literal, you are big and strong, and you are mine.

 

Charlie, you can be and do whatever you want to be and do.  Mommy and Daddy are right behind you.  We believe in you.  We know you will kill it at kindergarten.  The obstacles are there for you to overcome, not to stop you along the way.  Mommy and Daddy will overcome with you.  Mommy and Daddy will not always have an answer for you, you will keep testing us, we will become impatient, but you are still our boy. 

 

You are still our little boy who loves trucks and cars, builds Legos, plays in the dirt, and wants PB and J but a whole sandwich, not cut.  You twirl your hair in your forefingers and suck your teeth to show me you’re tired.  You ask for your pillow, your blanket, Youtube, and breakfast every morning.  If I go take a shower before getting you up, I’ll hear it from you.  You like shorts, your heavy blanket, peanut butter, and edamame.  You give the best hugs, have a tendency to lick my face, get scared at thunder, and always love my t-shirts.  Charlie, you will be great at whatever you do.  Put your best to anything, always thank Jesus for your blessings, be a good person, hold the door for ladies, mow the lawn, don’t forget to write your name on the top of your papers at school.  Family first, look both ways, say your prayers, and always love with your whole heart.

 

I love you,

Mommy

Little bricks under your feet ...

My two sons have discovered Legos - needless to say Michael and I are thrilled as we love them ourselves.  Putting together - yes.  Playing - yes.  Little bricks under my feet ... NO.  No. 


NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!


The big Lego Cities are the best, yet we are running out of space. 


On a sick day a week or so ago, Charlie decided Max needed a challenge. 


[You know, sick days, when a child gets an ear infection and complains just enough to get the daycare's attention to call me from work, but then when at the doctor's office becomes "miraculously" better, but yes, it is an ear infection.  You must stay home the mandatory 24 hours for the amoxicillin to kick in.  The pink chalky gooey must taste good medicine because he takes it like it's crack.]


So Charlie did this to the police station.  The really big eight books of instructions and bags after bags of Lego bricks to make Police Station.

So Max took a deep breath, spit in his hands, rubbed them together, and went in full force.  OK, so he really didn't spit in his hands and rub them together.  (But it sounded good, didn't it?)


I chuckled when he pulled out a book and told me he needed bag 7.  Well, there it is kiddo, in one big pile, along with bags 1-6 and 8.  May the force be with you.


He was an utter champ.

Then I was that really cool mom and took my kids to the Lego Store.  Do not walk, RUN, to your nearest Lego store and try not to spend all your money.

My name is Natasha and I am fully aware of my part in nurturing my children's obsession with the little bricks.

March 7th, 2016

It's Farm Show time!

If you are from near or even heard of Central PA - than you know about the Farm Show.  It always happens right after the New Year and goes for generally about 9-10 days.  Yes, folks, it's a Farm Show.  The 100th annual Central Pennsylvania Farm Show.


10 things to know ...


1.  It smells.
2.  The buses are always busy, late, crowded, never around, etc. - parking is your only "have-to" pay.  15 dollars.  Big whoop.  Then you take a bus to the actual location.
3.  It smells.
4.  Cows and horses will knock you over ... they have the right of way if you are in the barns ... MOVE PEOPLE.
5.  The baby chicks have got to be the cutest baby animals ever ... ever.
6.  What do they do with the butter sculpture after the farm show is over?  Does everyone come on the last day with bread?
7.  Farm Show milkshakes and potato donuts are the greatest ever. 
8.  Go see an auction - cannot understand a word, but pretty cool to listen and watch.
9.  Horses pull tractors ... did you know?
10.  Let your kids climb all over the tractors - it's the coolest.  Just don't let them turn anything on ... like the hazard lights.  Not that I have any experience with that at all. 


Want to see some pictures ... ofcourse you do!

Who's kid gets pizza at the Farm Show - mine.

Milkshakes.

Milkshakes.

They really let you sit on the tractors and push buttons.

In his glory.

Which one next?

Every child must enjoy the Farm Show, at least once.

January 18th, 2016

Port Discovery's Children Museum, Baltimore

I truly believe that children this day and age have it made.  Whoever came up with the idea of having "touchable" museums was a fucking genius.


A ... GENIUS.


Please ... bring your children into this enclosed space and let them run, climb, jump, scream, throw, skip, TOUCH WHATEVER THE HELL THEY WANT.


Genius.


I have taken Max and Charlie to the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia, PA and the Hands-On Children's Museum in Lancaster, PA.  Obviously, the one on Philadelphia is much larger with a much larger budget, but both are equally fun.  The one in Lancaster is noticeable smaller which contains the children much better.  The one in Philadelphia has displays, a caroussel, sculptures, huge water play area, rock climbing, etc. (Please see my blogpost from September 2012).  Lancaster has an outside garden for bug hunting and sandbox for playtime.


This past weekend, the boys and I headed to Baltimore Inner Harbor where there is the Port Discovery Children's Museum.  Again, GENIUS.  See the website below:
http://www.portdiscovery.org/ 

The climbing structure on the inside is the main piece and everything else revolves around it.  No one sticks to the age limits and my four year old was climbing in the 10 year old structure.  Spaces are narrow and even adults were getting into the rope gym, squeezing through tubes and sliding down slides.  It was so much fun and even us adults didn't want to wait our turn.  I was really proud of Max and Charlie - they held their own.  Charlie froze up once in a huge rope tube/ladder that took the kids to the top.  He looked around ... there were so many kids.  He climbed down.  Max kept going up.  All good.

It's actually not that expensive, they help validate your parking, we packed and ate a luncheon in the car.  It was fantastic ... plus you're right on the harbor.  Restaurants galore, the National Aquarium, Camden Yards, boats, etc.  Make a weekend of it.

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.  Seek out these places, jump houses, trampoline parks, anything ... get your kids moving even when it's freezing outside!

Max and I!

My love.

Clay Egyptian lettering.

climbing

climbing more

and more.

tractors

and crops

big foam Legos

shopping

Sir Charlie

January 4th, 2016

I really need to write more ...

Happy New Year ... 2016.  Weren't we supposed to have flying cars by now?  Computers in our eyes?  Robots to do it all for us?

I think we're doing alright ...

I was crafting at 7:00am this morning ... how about you?

Charlie and his paper bag cow ... for Maximo, my student, the farmer.

My Max and his pop stick puppet cow.

2015 has come to a close and 2016 has begun.  I actually made it to midnight this time, keeping myself occupied with a ROLLTIDE shut out, thank you notes, and setting up my bullet journal.    

I'm still here.

I hope you readers out there will be reading from me more this year.  That is a resolution ... I promise.

But can I make some resolutions for my sons ...

Max will ...
1.  not pick on his brother so much.
2.  brush his teeth without being told.
3.  willingly eat more vegetables than just green beans.
4.  make his bed.
5.  not move his boat from the "Happy Pirate" zone into the "Rough Seas" at kindergarten.
6.  not lose his desire to hug and kiss me goodbye every day I leave for work.
7.  stop picking his nose and biting his nails.
8.  jump off the diving board at the swimming pool.
9.  stop using training wheels.
10.  always need me.
11.  be a leader, not a follower.

Charlie will ...
1.  stop making police siren noises at all times.
2.  control his behaviors.
3.  not lose his desire to hug and kiss me goodbye every day I leave for work.
4.  will have more than one good day a week at school.
5.  successfully start kindergarten.
6.  keep waking up and calling for me, even though it is sometimes too early, I get worried when he doesn't.
6.  get over his annoyance of busy classrooms, "too many friends" and be able to hold his own.
7.  write his name legibly.
8.  name every car brand out there by symbol.
9.  not let his disability define him.
10.  use utensils for an entire meal.
11.  always need me.

Natasha will ...
1.  blog more.
2.  keep up to date with her bullet journal.
3.  be a good person.
4.  not be that mom.
5.  be a beast in the gym.
6.  sleep more.
7.  learn how to help her sons more.
8.  write for the Huffington Post 6 times.
9.  play in the dirt.
10.  figure out more than she did last year.
11.  tell her husband every day she loves him so much.
12.  stop being critical of herself.

Let's get started.

January 1, 2016